Susie Waters fought the wrath of COVID and praises God for her recovery. “I do know that if it wasn’t for all the prayers and the Lord, I wouldn’t be here now — it was a miracle,” she said.
By Deby Jo Ferguson
Progress staff writer
Susie Waters, 67, is the daughter of the late Mary and Jim Bell. She is one of five children including two brothers, a sister and half-sister. Susie was born in Sarasota, Fla. then her family moved to Franklin, N.C. in 1970.
Her sister, Tami, was marrying Allen Waters, of Hayesville, and during the rehearsal Susie met her future husband, Dickie Waters who was Allen’s younger brother.
“The first time I met Dickie I thought he was a pain in the butt,” she laughed. “We got to know each other and started dating, then got married in 1989,” Susie said.
Susie worked in the bakery at Ingles in Hayesville for 23 years, but three years later after transferring to the Franklin store, her life changed.
“I was working in Franklin during December of 2020 when I got sick with COVID. I don’t even remember Christmas that year, but was told I cooked dinner for the holiday,” Susie said.
In January of 2021 Susie’s condition became worse and she was having difficulty breathing. Dickie took her to the hospital in Franklin.
“I remember walking through the front door of the emergency room and telling them I had COVID. After checking me out they said they were transporting me to Hendersonville, N.C. I recall Dickie coming in and telling me bye,” she said. “That’s about all I remember for the next three months.”
Susie was placed in an induced coma for three months and there were a couple of times the family was called in to say their goodbyes because the doctors felt she wasn’t going to make it. After arriving at Hendersonville Hospital she was also placed on a ventilator and feeding tube.
“The doctors told Dickie that I would never come off the ventilator. He told the doctor that I would come off it. He said, ‘You just don’t know my God. My God can do anything,’” Susie said.
“From what I was told they had a tough time waking me out of the coma. Don’t know why but I just couldn’t wake up, then I finally did. I still had the trach so I couldn’t talk to anyone when they came in. Then I was sent to a hospital in Asheville, N.C.,” she said.
Twice, after coming out of the coma Susie had to be transferred to another hospital because her lungs collapsed. Then came back to the Asheville Hospital. After enduring many difficulties the trach was removed along with the feeding tube once she passed the swallow test.
“I was able to eat after the trach and feeding tube were removed. A few weeks later I was sent to rehab where I had to learn how to walk with a walker,” said Susie. “It was so strange because when I finally woke up, I thought I could get up and walk around. I just didn’t understand why I couldn’t. I even had to learn to dress myself again. Not understanding why I wasn’t able to do this was really confusing.”
Once Susie was awake, she came to realize all that would be involved in her healing process, but she still maintained her hope for recovery.
“Sometimes it would be hard to know the difference whether something really happened or I just dreamed it. They would send someone in and ask me if I was depressed. Guess I only got really depressed one time and that was when Dickie and my sister, Tami were there and all I could think about was I wanted my sister to lay beside me on the bed and hold me,” said Susie. “I knew if she did that, I would be OK. That day I cried.”
Susie was transfered to rehabilitation for about a month before going home.
“After five months of being in the hospital, the doctor wanted me to go to a nursing home, but I told them a flat no. In June of 2020 before I got COVID, I was taking the dog out and something must have startled ‘em because he took off running and dragged me down the steps. I broke both ankles, recovered and went back to work, so they weren’t going to put me in a nursing home now,” she said. “I knew I could make it at home because I had a husband I knew would help me.”
After returning home Susie underwent seven months of therapy, learned to use a walker and was put on oxygen 24/7.
“It’s been three years and today Dickie still uses a massager on my back every night to help my lungs,” noted Susie. “I don’t remember a lot of things that happened to me in the hospital, even when I was awake. Dickie said I didn’t really need to know all the stuff I went through, but I know I lost all my hair while I was there.”
Susie is in good spirits now and her hair has grown back with nice wavy curls.
“I remember the first night I came home I was scared and happy at the same time. At night I was afraid to go to sleep at first, afraid I wouldn’t wake up. I still couldn’t walk by myself at that time,” she said.
“There are side effects that you’re left with when you have COVID that bad. I’m on the oxygen and I can’t get up and clean my house the way I want to. I get out of breath too easily. I got COVID feet while I was in the hospital — they were so swollen. I think that’s why they still feel numb now. It’s been three years and I still have to struggle with my walking,” she said.
Susie said the one of the things she missed most was going to work. She loved working in the bakery at Ingles in Franklin.
She mentioned that there wasn’t a lot of medical knowledge about COVID during the beginning stages and they probably don’t know for sure all the medical effects that will come from it in the future.
“I got COVID again when I came home, but I made it okay that time. I did get scarlett fever and had to go back and spend three days in the hospital,” she said.
“If anyone is going through a medical or emotional crisis in life remember prayers do work,” she said. “I thank God every day that I am alive. My health isn’t perfect, but I’m still living. I wouldn’t wish what I went through with COVID on anybody, but I know for sure it was God who saved me. Some people may not believe what I’m saying , but I’m living proof God is real.”